Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield LINDFIELD: KILLARA: MASS TIMES: Saturday 6:00pm Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8:15am Sunday: 9:15am 10:15am 12:00 (Chinese Community Mass) 6:00pm (for both our communities) Monday 9:15am ~ Tuesday 7:00pm this week 7:30am Wednesday 9:15am 7:30am Thursday 9:15am 7:30am Friday 9:15am ~ Saturday 9:15am ~ SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 5:00 5:30pm (Lindfield) For 15 minutes after the 5:30pm Mass (Killara) ** NO Mass at Lindfield on the second Friday of each month *** Healing Mass for whole parish at Killara at 10am each 2nd Friday of each month PENTECOST SUNDAY (THE CONCLUSION TO THE SEASON OF EASTER) The season of glad song has come (Song of Songs 2:12) This week: Acts 2:1-11; Rom 8:8-17; Jn 14:15-16, 23-26 Next week: Prov 8:22-31; Rom 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15 An end and a beginning... Today with the celebration of Pentecost the Easter Season draws to a close. This great Easter feast of Pentecost stands as the second greatest day in our Church year after Easter Sunday itself, outranking by far even Christmas itself. Pentecost is often looked at as just a feast day standing by itself. But it s not. It is an Easter day, intimately bound up with Easter itself. Pentecost celebrates that what happens at Easter belongs also to us that the Spirit poured out by the Father on Jesus, raising him to life, is poured out on us. And the Spirit is the Spirit of unity. As the Spirit is the bond of love uniting Father and Son in the Trinity, so the Spirit unites us, brings us into one body. For that reason Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church for the Church is born, the Christian community is born, in the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. For that reason too the week leading up to Pentecost is observed as The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is a day which invites us to participate in the great unifying work of the Holy Spirit who builds the body of Christ. A Pentecost people is an ecumenical people. Fr Colin
2 Parish Staff and Contact Information We are the one parish of Lindfield-Killara containing our two distinct but collaborating and cooperating communities centred on our two churches at Killara and Lindfield. Holy Family Church: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: Parish Priest: Fr Colin Blayney Assistant Priest: Fr Stephen Hamilton Cnr Pacific Hwy and Highfield Rd, Lindfield Cnr Fiddens Wharf Rd and Charles St, Killara colin@lindfieldkillara.org.au 9416 7195 stephen@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0407 201 474 Apart from the case of emergency please restrict the use of the above numbers to between 9:30am and 5:00pm. For office or routine enquiries please contact the Parish Office during office hours. PARISH OFFICE: Parish Secretary: Philita Marundan: philita@lindfieldkillara.org.au Address: Level 1, 2 Highfield Road (cnr Pacific Hwy) Lindfield NSW 2070 (Postal: PO Box 22, Lindfield NSW 2070) Ph: 9416 3702 Fax: 9416 3913 Email: parish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am-1:00pm and 1:30pm-4:00pm Catechist Coordinator (Primary Schools): Sue-Anne Sherwood Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Sue-Anne Sherwood Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Trish Rodgers Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams Parish Facilities Coordinator (voluntary): Anthony Cassidy sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 trish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Primary School: Holy Family School 2-4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield 2070 Ph: 9416 7200 Fax: 9416 9342 Principal: Mr Lou Dogao Email: info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au School Website: www.hfldbb.catholic.edu.au/ Parish Website: www.lindfieldkillara.org.au Saturday 14 May 21 May Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 5:30pm Fr Stephen Hamilton Fr Michael Smith Sunday 15 May 22 May Lindfield 8:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney Killara 9:15am Fr Michael Smith Fr Michael Smith Lindfield 10:15am Fr Colin & Fr Stephen Colin Blayney Lindfield 12:00noon Fr Michael Smith Fr Nestor Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Stephen Hamilton Fr Colin Blayney
3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: THE INVITATION OF GRACE As I shared earlier this year, the Bible is "a text in travail." Sometimes the biblical writers catch a glimpse of God's true character--love, mercy, and justice--and sometimes they lose sight of it. Old Testament scholar and theologian Walter Brueggemann traces the evolution of human consciousness through three sections of Hebrew Scriptures: the Torah (the five books of the Pentateuch), the Prophets, and the Wisdom literature (including Job, the Psalms, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes). Just as children must begin with structure and rules, religion starts with setting boundaries, rituals, and rules about who is in and who is out. It's all about protecting the status quo, our tribal and egoic identity. But eventually we have to develop the capacity for self-criticism, as the prophets did, which is the necessary second stage. If we do both of these stages well, we will normally be catapulted toward wisdom and holiness. Another way to look at this is a series of Order > Disorder > Reorder. Most conservatives get trapped in the first step and most liberals get stuck in the second. Healthy religion is all about getting you to the third, Reorder. There is no nonstop flight. You must learn the wisdom of both the first and second stages before moving on. Much of the chaos and instability of our time stems from many young and sophisticated people now beginning life in the second stage of Disorder and criticism, without first learning deeply from Order. It appears to be a disaster. The three stages must be in proper sequence for life to unfold somewhat naturally. Throughout Scripture, even in the first books of the Torah, there are wisdom statements such as this: "I will do the work for you; you only need to be still" (see Exodus 14:14). From the very beginning, we see the message of divine grace forming. But the biblical stories quickly move back into legalism and priest craft, painting a picture of God as demanding "smells and bells" and purity and debt codes. Sometimes in the same paragraph you'll read an absolutely enlightening line that just oozes with grace, and the next line is punitive, accusatory, and shame-based. Grace and fear keep taking turns on centre stage. This is how life is for each of us, if we're honest. The Bible clearly affirms law, authority, and tradition, as most literature in history has done, but then it does something different and even rare: it affirms reform, change, and the voiceless. The Bible idealises the victim, contrary to most of the world's stories and histories. Think of David and Goliath, the story of a young boy victorious over a giant. Yet when that boy becomes a king, the prophet Nathan chastises and corrects him. The biblical text keeps self-correcting. This is what makes the Bible an inspired book. It reveals an alternative consciousness; it critiques itself. This is the necessary Disorder that keeps all Order from becoming idolatrous and selfserving. The prophets always present Israel with "The Great However" that stops them in their tracks. This "but" dispels any idealisation of perfect order, any so-called normal, forcing the people to recognise their own hypocrisy and phony self-interest. The prophets help them see that they are using religion to worship themselves and not Yahweh. Prophetic criticism is never good news for pretenders and opportunists--which is just about all of us until we learn the compassion, mercy, and forgiveness that Disorder teaches us. Fr Richard Rohr ofm
THIS Tuesday 17th May Tuesday 24th May 4 2016 ADULT FAITH EDUCATION Learning from the Carmelite Mystics' Fr Greg Homeming ocd, whose visit last year was so well received and appreciated, will join us on two more evenings this year. Fr Greg will lead us into the wisdom of the great Carmelite mystics and what they can contribute to our own spirituality and discipleship: from 7:30-9:15pm (tea break in the middle of the session) If you missed session 1 please still feel very free to come to the next session. Venue: The Shirley Wallace Parish Centre (lift access in side foyer of Holy Family church). There is Mass at 7pm in the church in The Lady Chapel prior to the meeting. Coming up this year get your diaries out! Thursday 26th May (7:30pm) Tuesday 7th June (7:30pm) Saturday 18th June (10am-2pm) Saturday 25th June (evening) Wednesday 12th October (6pm) Tuesday 25th October (7:30pm) Sunday 6th November (10:15am) Launch of the hymnal Catholic Worship Book II by Bishop Peter Comensoli (see p.12) Catholic - Uniting Church Dialogue between Bishop Peter Comensoli and Rev. Ann Hogan in our Parish Centre (see page 12) Bishop Graeme Rutherford here for adult education day Parish Social Night: Winter Wine Tasting Evening Mass and supper for our HSC students and their families Parish Thank You Evening for Volunteers: Mass and social evening Blessing and welcome for 2017 Kindergarten families Sunday 13th November (10:15am) Visit by choir from St Francis of Assisi at Paddington Friday 9th December (evening) for the second year, our joint parish and school celebration of Carols Under The Stars. (All these dates [and more as they are added] appear under Diary/Events in the News and Events section of our parish website)
5 Why are we called Fusion? Because we fuse together food, friendship, fun and faith on Friday for a fantastic time! All FUSION meetings are in the Shirley Wallace Centre above the church. NEW Youth Group for Years 4, 5 and 6!! YOUTH MASS Our next Youth Mass will be on Sunday 29th May at 6 pm Sunday in Lindfield. Young and old are all invited of course. We encourage all youth aged 10-30 to come help us make this Mass special by offering your talents in singing or playing music, reading, welcoming, etc. Contact us at youth@lindfieldkillara.org.au if you re interested in helping. Hope to see you there! Precision Dance Academy Web: precisiondanceacademy.com.au Tuesdays & Wednesdays at : 2 Highfield Road cnr Pacific Hway above Holy Family Church Lindfield Contact Miss Regina for enquiries: 0413 221 277 or email dance@precisiondanceacademy.com.au FREE TRIAL FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS Mid-term enrolments are welcome Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no. 94165335 Fax no. 94161538 E:sales@universalinstruments.com.au
6 EXCERPTS FROM POPE FRANCIS NEW APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LAETITIA: THE JOY OF LOVE : PART III 116. Love does not despair of the future. Following upon what has just been said, this phrase speaks of the hope of one who knows that others can change, mature and radiate unexpected beauty and untold potential. This does not mean that everything will change in this life. It does involve realising that, though things may not always turn out as we wish, God may well make crooked lines straight and draw some good from the evil we endure in this world. 117. Here hope comes most fully into its own, for it embraces the certainty of life after death. Each person, with all his or her failings, is called to the fullness of life in heaven. There, fully transformed by Christ s resurrection, every weakness, darkness and infirmity will pass away. There the person s true being will shine forth in all its goodness and beauty. This realisation helps us, amid the aggravations of this present life, to see each person from a supernatural perspective, in the light of hope, and await the fullness that he or she will receive in the heavenly kingdom, even if it is not yet visible. 118. Love endures all things. This means that love bears every trial with a positive attitude. It stands firm in hostile surroundings. This endurance involves not only the ability to tolerate certain aggravations, but something greater: a constant readiness to confront any challenge. It is a love that never gives up, even in the darkest hour. It shows a certain dogged heroism, a power to resist every negative current, an irrepressible commitment to goodness. Here I think of the words of Martin Luther King, who met every kind of trial and tribulation with fraternal love: The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls the image of God, you begin to love him in spite of [everything]. No matter what he does, you see God s image there. There is an element of goodness that he can never sluff off Another way that you love your enemy is this: when the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love, but you seek to defeat the system Hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and so on, you see, that goes on ad infinitum. It just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that s the strong person. The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil Somebody must have religion enough and morality enough to cut it off and inject within the very structure of the universe that strong and powerful element of love. 1 (to be continued) 1 Martin Luther KingJr., Sermon delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, 17 November 1957.
7 GREAT NEWS! Bishop Graeme Rutherford, who led a parish adult education day with us in 2014, will be returning this year to spend another day with us: Saturday 18th June 10:00am 2:00pm in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre More details soon. MANY MANY THANKS to our Chinese Catholic Community who have donated the additional 40 chairs for St Brigid s Hall in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre and to two members of the parish who have donated the cost of the new computer for the Parish office. APPROACHING THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR As we enter the final two months of this Financial Year just a reminder of two things: any extra that you can contribute to our Second Collection over this time will be of great assistance towards us achieving a good result for this year. the third and final Charitable Works Fund Appeal (CWF) for this Financial Year will take place over the weekends of: * Next Sunday 21st/22nd May * and the following weekend 28th/29th May. We still have quite a way to go to achieving our quota so please support this appeal generously. Donations to CWF are 100% tax deductible. FAREWELL TO FR STEPHEN This weekend, as you know, marks Fr Stephen s final weekend with us before he takes up his appointment as Assistant Priest at The Entrance parish. We are deeply grateful to Stephen for all that he has been and done amongst us. We have our whole parish farewell and thank you to Fr Stephen today Sunday 15th May (Pentecost Sunday) at the 10:15am Mass in Holy Family Church and this will be followed by refreshments and formalities in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. We also extend our welcome in advance to Fr Thomas Alackakunnel who will take up his appointment as Assistant Priest on 11th June. As there is a space of a couple of weeks between Fr Stephen s departure and Fr Thomas arrival I have arranged that Fr Michael Smith who has assisted us from time to time to reside in the parish and assist me with weekday and Sunday Masses during that time. Fr Colin
8 THE PRAYERS AND RESPONSES OF MASS GLORIA: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. INVITATION TO PRAYER LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Celebrant: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours.. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise & glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION: Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:
9 THE PSALM Psalm 103:1, 24, 29-31, 34 Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are, How many are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your riches. You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord last for ever! May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to God. I find my joy in the Lord. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: Lord send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. SEQUENCE (please remain seated to pray the Sequence after the 2nd Reading) 1. Holy Spirit, Lord of light, 6. You, of all consolers best, from the clear celestial height You, the soul s delightful guest, your beaming radiance give. do refreshing peace bestow. 2. Come now Father of the poor; 7. You in toil are comfort sweet; Come with treasures which endure; Pleasant coolness in the heat; Come, now, light of all that live! Solace in the midst of woe. 3. Light immortal, light divine, 8. Bend the stubborn heart & will, visit now these hearts of thine, melt the frozen, warm the chill, and our inmost being fill. guide the steps that go astray. 4 If you take your grace away, 9. Now, on us who evermore nothing pure in us will stay, you confess and you adore, all our good is turned to ill. with your sevenfold gifts descend. 5. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; 10. Give us comfort when we die on our dryness pour your dew; give us life with you on high; wash the stains of guilt away. give us joys that never end. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle them the fire of your love. Alleluia! RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK: Mon: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Tues: Lord, do not deal with us as our sins deserve, nor punish us for our faults. Wed: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Thurs: Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Fri: The Lord comes to judge the earth. Sat: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. REFRAIN FOR THE COMMUNION HYMN: The power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you, And you will be my witnesses for all the world.
10 ENROLMENT FOR THE PREPARATION PROGRAMME FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: CONCLUDES TODAY Once again the enrolment process is an online one and is open until today 15th May. Please go to our parish website (www.lindfieldkillara.org.au) and go to Sacraments Children s Sacraments and you will find the link to the instructions for how to enrol as well as background information and dates related to this year s celebration of Confirmation. NEW PARISH PLAYGROUP Characters Playgroup every Wednesday from 10:30am till noon (during school terms) in our new Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Holy Family church. Please register via Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/jykw Please contact Sue-Anne Sherwood for details (see page 2). PARISH SOCIAL JUSTICE In May we re collecting personal toiletry items for the homeless: When you re out doing your grocery shop this month, why not pick up one of the following items for someone in need: Feminine products Nappies Shaving cream & razor Deodorant (men s and women s) We also need small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. that you get when you stay in a hotel. Did you know that hotels are required to throw them out (used or unused) after you leave? Next time you stay in a hotel, take them all with you: you ll help someone in need and save the environment at the same time! There will be a collection box in the foyers of both churches. Thanks! NEXT SUNDAY Today s feast of Pentecost brings the Easter Season to its conclusion and fulfilment and on Monday we return to the Ordinary Time of our Church year. Next Sunday is Trinity Sunday as we celebrate the revelation of God whom we have experienced in the Easter mystery. FOUND at Holy Family Church a jewelled Cross. Please contact the Parish Office. FR RON ROLHEISER OMI whose articles appear regularly in our bulletin will be addressing a forum at St Mary s Church, North Sydney in the Ron Dyer Centre from 9am-2pm on Saturday 2nd July. Full details may be found on the flyer available on the Virtual Parish Noticeboard on the parish website.
11 ECUMENICAL SERVICE FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE TRI-DIOCESAN COVENANT This year s Ecumenical Service of Worship to renew the Covenant signed in 2008 by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is to be hosted by our own Diocese of Broken Bay and will take place on: Wednesday 25th May at 7:45pm in Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral 23 Yardley Avenue, Waitara. The celebration will be jointly presided over by Bishop Peter Comensoli, Bishop Greg Thompson and Bishop Bill Wright. Please be part of this important ecumenical gathering. Please invite other parishioners to come with you. PARISH STUDY GROUP The next meeting of the Study Group is at 2.00 pm on Saturday 11th June in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. Subject: Pope Francis ground breaking Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) available via the hotlink box on the front page of the parish website. The document is different in its approach to controversial issues affecting many living with pain being separated from the Church All welcome No need to book, just turn up and join in discussion. PHYSIOFIT LINDFIELD Parishioner PHYSIOTHERAPIST KERRY WESTON (BOGARD) *Hands on treatment! *Exercise prescription! *Exercise classes! We are located at: 8/345 Pacific Highway, Lindfield 2070 (Scholastic Building) Phone: 9416 3155 Mob:0417456294 Email: kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE 94163702 Comfort Inn North Shore Family owned and professionally operated motel with on-site restaurant Address: 1 Gatacre Avenue, Lane Cove Phone: 02 9427 0266 Email: res@cins.com.au Website: www.cins.com.au DISABILITY ACCESS AT KILLARA As you know we now have the funds to complete this project a mixture of generous donations from members of both communities in our parish along with a NSW Government grant which covers half the project costs. For safety reasons there is a security fence around the worksite at the front door. Normal access to the church is available via the doors opposite the presbytery. Apologies that the work is yet to be completed it should be so by the end of this week. This has been a major job and is fully compliant with all government standards. We apologise for any disruption during the time of construction. Fr Colin
12 That they may all be one... "The Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience." (n. 8) Thus the entire life of Christians is marked by a concern for ecumenism; and they are called to let themselves be shaped, as it were, by that concern." (n. 15) "Thus, it is absolutely clear that ecumenism, the movement promoting Christian unity, is not just some sort of 'appendix' which is added to the Church's traditional activity. Rather, ecumenism is an organic part of her life and work and consequently must pervade all that she is and does... This is what Pope John XXIII believed about the unity of the Church and how he saw full Christian unity. With regard to other Christians, to the great Christian family, he observed: 'What unites us is much greater than what divides us." (n. 20) "The (Vatican) Council's Decree on Ecumenism also emphasises the importance of 'every effort to eliminate words, judgements and actions which do not respond to the condition of separated brethren with truth and fairness and so make mutual relations between them more difficult... It is necessary to pass from antagonism and conflict to a situation where each party recognises the other as a partner... For this to happen, any display of mutual opposition must disappear." (n. 29)
Address: 319 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, NSW 2060 164 King Street, Newton 6 Pitt Street Parramatta Phone: 9519-5344/99545255 FAX: 95194310 W: www.wnbull.com.au E: wnbull@bigpond.com.au Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association 13 Lindfield Dental Practice Dr Peter Chung DDS, MDS, PhD Clinical Assoc Professor Open: Mon-Sat P: 9416 5000 Suite 1, 345 Pacific Highway (Scholastic Bldg) Next to Lindfield Medical Practice AN INVITATION Our parish has been honoured by being invited to be the host venue for the launch of the new Catholic Worship Book II hymnal. The compilation of this hymnbook has been done under the auspices of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference with the aim of providing an up to date quality musical resource for Catholic parishes across Australia. The NSW launch is to take place in Holy Family Church at Lindfield on Thursday 26th May at 7:30pm. The choir from St Francis of Assisi at Paddington has been invited by the organisers to be present and to lead us in sampling the treasures of this hymnbook. Bishop Peter Comensoli will be here to officially launch the hymnbook. Supper will follow in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. All are welcome to this special evening. CATHOLIC-UNITING CHURCH DIALOGUE Bishop Peter Comensoli of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay and The Rev. Ann Hogan, Chairperson of the Kuring-Gai Presbytery of the Uniting Church will engage in a dialogue on the topic: 'For what should Christians lobby in the public square?' here in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on Tuesday 7th June at 7:30pm. All welcome. This event has been organised by the Ecumenical Commission of the Diocese of Broken Bay.
五旬節主日 ( 節日 ) 15-5-2016 讀經一 ( 眾人都充滿了聖神, 說起外方話 來 ) 恭讀宗徒大事錄 2:1-11 五旬節一到, 門徒及眾人都聚集一 處 忽然, 從天上來了一陣響聲, 好像暴 風颳來, 充滿了他們所在的全座房屋 有 些散開好像火的舌頭, 停留在他們每人頭 上, 他們都充滿了聖神, 照聖神賜給他們 的話, 說起外方話來 那時, 居住在耶路撒冷的, 有從天下 各國來的虔誠猶太人 這聲音一響, 就聚 集了許多人, 都倉皇失措, 因為人人都聽 見他們說各人的方言 他們驚訝奇怪地說 : 看, 這些說話 的, 不都是加里肋亞人嗎? 怎麼我們每人 聽見他們說我們出生地的方言呢? 我們中 有帕提雅人 瑪待人 厄藍人和居住在美 索不達米亞 猶太及卡帕多細雅 本都並 亞細亞 夫黎基雅和旁非里雅 埃及, 並 靠近基勒乃的利比亞一帶的人, 以及僑居 的羅馬人 猶太人和皈依猶太教的人 克 里特人和阿拉伯人 怎麼我們都聽見他們 用我們的話, 講論天主的奇事呢? 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 答唱詠詠 104:1,24, 29-30, 31,34 眾 : 我的靈魂, 請頌讚上主! 上主 我的 天主, 你偉大無比 上主, 你的化 工, 何其繁浩 ; 你創造的萬物, 充滿 大地 眾 : 你若停止牠們的呼吸, 牠們就要死 去, 歸於原來的灰土 你一噓氣, 萬 物化生 ; 你使大地, 更新復興 眾 : 願上主的光榮, 永世無窮 ; 願上主喜 愛自己的化工! 願我的祈禱蒙上主喜 悅 ; 我將常在上主內歡樂 讀經二 ( 凡受天主聖神引導的, 都是天主 的子女 ) 恭讀聖保祿宗徒致羅馬人書 8:8-17 14 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 弟兄姊妹們 : 凡隨從肉性的人, 決不能得天主的 歡心 至於你們, 你們已不屬於肉性, 而是屬於聖神, 只要天主的聖神, 住在 你們內 誰若沒有基督的聖神, 誰就不屬於 基督 如果基督在你們內, 身體固然因 罪惡而死亡, 但神魂卻賴正義而生活 再者, 如果那使耶穌從死者中復活者的 聖神, 住在你們內, 那麼, 那使基督從 死者中復活的, 也必要藉那住在你們內 的聖神, 使你們有死的身體復活 弟兄們! 這樣看來, 我們並不欠肉 性的債, 以致該隨從肉性生活 如果你 們隨從肉性生活, 必要死亡 ; 然而, 如 果你們依賴聖神, 去致死肉性的妄動, 必能生活 因為凡受天主聖神引導的, 都是天主的子女 其實你們所領受的聖 神, 並非使你們作奴隸, 以致仍舊恐 懼 ; 而是使你們作義子 因此, 我們呼 號 : 阿爸, 父呀! 聖神親自和我們 的心神, 一同作證 : 我們是天主的子 女 我們既是子女, 便是承繼者, 是天 主的承繼者, 是基督的同承繼者 ; 只要 我們與基督一同受苦, 也必與他一同受 光榮 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 五旬節讚歌 聖神, 請你降臨, 從高天放射你的光 芒 窮人的慈父, 請你降臨! 恩寵的施主, 請你降臨! 心靈的真光, 請你降臨! 你是良善的施慰者 ; 你是心靈甘飴的賓 客 ; 你是甜蜜的涼蔭 在勞苦中, 你是憩息 ; 在酷熱裡, 你是 清風 ; 在悲痛時, 你是慰藉 你是萬福的真光, 求你充滿你信眾的心 靈深處 沒有你的助佑, 人便一無所有, 一無是 處 求你洗淨我們的污穢, 灌溉我們的乾 枯, 醫治我們的創傷 求你軟化頑固的心, 溫暖冷酷的心, 引導迷途的人 求你將七種神恩, 賜給你的信眾 求你賜我們修德的能力, 善生福終, 永享天福 亞孟 福音前歡呼 領 / 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 聖神, 請你降臨, 充滿你信徒的 心 ; 在他們心內, 燃起你的愛火 眾 : 亞肋路亞 福音 ( 就如父派遣了我, 我也同樣派 遣你們, 你們領受聖神吧!) 恭讀聖若望福音 20:19-23 華人天主教會北區中心, 主日彌撒 12 時彌撒後 Parish Hall 午餐聚會. 餐費 $5.00 請各教友參加. 牧職修女司徒金美修女 0419-426899 中心聯絡 Gloria Cheung 0416-118089 Sunday School 主日學 12nooon, Parish Meeting Room ( 國 / 粵語 ) 慕道班, 11:00am-12noon Parish Meeting Room, 聯絡 Sr.Anne, 0430883313 www.ccc-inc.org.au 5 月聖母月頌唸玖瑰經, 上午 11:50 彌撒前頌唸玖瑰經, 請各教友參加今日彌撒後午餐聚會, 舉行 Fr. Stephen 送别會, 希望大家都會參與 我們預備有一張 Farewell Card, 請大家可以簽名 5 月 22 日午餐舉行 5 月及 6 月生日會及結婚記念慶祝會, 請各教友參加. 餐費 $5.00
(continued from page 16 ): the Father and the Son generate the Spirit, and what results from this generation. The Father constantly creates and gives life. The Son receives life from the Father and gives it back in gratitude. 15 This then (as is true in all relationships wherein gift is received lovingly) makes it possible for the Father to give even more to the Son. As this flow of life, this giving and receiving, goes on, gratitude intensifies and an energy, a spirit, the Holy Spirit, is generated. This Spirit, since it is generated by gratitude, naturally is a Spirit of charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, and chastity. It is then too a spirit that is naturally incompatible with idolatry, adultery, violence, gossip, factionalism, jealousy, rage, and infidelity. When we meditate on how the Holy Spirit is generated, we are under less illusion as to what it means to live in the Spirit. To believe that we are living in the Spirit when our lives are not permeated by, and radiating, gratitude is to be dangerously deluded. We must be clear about this, lest, as poet William Stafford puts it: Following the wrong God home, we may both miss our star. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi, from the Centre for Liturgy Precision Dance Academy Web: precisiondanceacademy.com.au Tuesdays & Wednesdays at : 2 Highfield Road cnr Pacific Hway above Holy Family Church Lindfield Contact Miss Regina for enquiries: 0413 221 277 or email dance@precisiondanceacademy.com.au FREE TRIAL FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS Mid-term enrolments are welcome Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no. 94165335 Fax no. 94161538 E:sales@universalinstruments.com.au Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Recently deceased: Dr Edward (Ted) Cullen, Monica Gibbons, Vince Patrick Kelly, Maria Nguyen, Kathleen Ciemiega, Vincent John Flynn and Tony Chatfield. Please pray for those who are sick : Br Tony Butler fms, Peter Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Peter Norton, Sean Maguire, Adrian Selwyn, Marjorie Simpkins, Greg Sutherland, Michael & John Swan.
16 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. If you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom 8:13) LIVING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Few expressions so succinctly summarise what is asked of us as Christians as does the expression: to live in the Spirit. Too often, however, this phrase is used in a way that is too pious, too over-charged with charismatic fervour, or too theologically abstract to have much meaning for ordinary people. It may well summarise Christian life, but it can also be little more than a very vague platitude. What does it mean to live in the Spirit? St Paul, in attempting to specify this, is anything but piously deluded or theologically abstract. Rather he speaks with a clarity that leaves almost no room for vagueness or false sentiment. He begins by a certain via negativa, telling us that, if in our lives there is lewd conduct, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, bickering, jealousy, outbursts of rage, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factionalism, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like, then we are not living in the spirit, pure and simple. Conversely, we are living in the spirit when, in our lives, there is charity, joy, peace, patience, endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity. (Gal 5:22) This is a valuable insight because, if we take Paul s word s seriously, we can never delude ourselves into identifying true life in the Spirit with what it is so often confused with, namely, false piety and over-privatised sentiment (in pious circles) and confrontation out of hurt, paranoia, and narrow loyalties (in both liberal and conservative circles). When the fruits of the Spirit are absent, irrespective of how spiritually confident and self-righteous we might feel or how right our cause might seem, then the Spirit too is absent. We must be clear about this. The Spirit is present only when charity, joy, peace, patience, endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity are deeply in our lives and permeate the air around us. The Holy Spirit, as classically defined in theology, is the love between the God and Christ, the Father and the Son. It is in meditating this concept that we come to some understanding of what it means to live in the Spirit. Let me try to elaborate on this by using a image, that of romantic love in its peak fervour. Imagine a couple who are deeply, passionately, and completely in love. What will characterise their relationship? Constant giving and receiving, resulting in an ever deeper relationship and an ever intensifying gratitude which will leave them both, daily, feeling ever more mellow, joyful, peaceful, mild, patient, chaste, and wanting to reach out and share with others what is so quickening in their own lives. Moreover, their love for each other will create, around them, an ambience, a climate, an atmosphere, of charity, joy, peace, patience, mildness, and chastity. The movement of giving-and-receiving-in-gratitude between them will create a warm hearth where others will spontaneously come to seek warmth in a world which offers too little peace, patience, joy, and the like. Such a relationship can be a modest indicator for what happens in the Trinity, of how (continued on page 15 )